3M allowed to burn others' waste

COTTAGE GROVE, MN (AP) - The 3M Corp. will be allowed to burn waste from outside sources at its incinerator in Cottage Grove, the only hazardous waste incinerator in the state.

The state Pollution Control Agency ruling follows a fight by opponents who tried to block the move for more than three years. They argued the extra incineration will endanger public health.

Alan Muller of the Coalition of Concerned Cottage Grove Citizens tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press (http://bit.ly/MT7D2Y) the ruling shows polluters are running the state agency.

3M currently burns material from more than 100 3M plants in North America. The permit will bring about 1,250 additional trucks carrying non-3M waste to the incinerator each year. The company isn't charging anything to accept the waste, but could save as much as $2 million a year in natural gas costs.